Separable fastener



Feb. 12, 1935. H; E. SIPE 1,991,320

SEPARABLE FASTENER ,Filed Jan. 7, 1955 INVEN TOR.

lu By g. 51%.?

TORNEYS.

Patented Feb. 12,- 1935 PATENT OFFICE SEPARABLE FASTENER Harry E. Sine, New York, N. Y., assignor toyHookless Fastener Company, a corporation of Pennsylvania Application January 7,

5 Claims.

My invention relates to fasteners and especially to that class of fasteners having multiple series of small interlocking elements along the edges of a slit, adapted to be quickly opened or fastened by movement of a slider along the elements.

Slide fasteners, (commonly called zippers) have been manufactured for several years by processes involving the shearing or stamping and subsequent forming of flat metal parts, or the form rolling of wire, and slicing units from the formed wire.

It has long been known that the cost of mate- 'rial is reduced, the costand complications of machinery and tools are reduced, by making small metal parts from round wire wherever possible, and it has many times been proposed to manufacture the slide fastener elements from round wire.

-While the wire fasteners heretofore proposed are satisfactory, under certain conditions, my present invention aims to provide an improved fastener made from round wire elements which will be exceedingly strong and durable and which is capable of being easily and cheaply manufactured by automatic wire bending machines.

One of the principal features of my invention is the manner in which the wire is bent around the edge of the carrier tape or stringer to provide in eifect a double gripping portion. The interlocking structure is preferably formed by bending the ends of the wire back over the stringer edge and forming interlocking devices on the wire ends by simple bending operations.

In the accompanying drawing, I have shown for purposes of illustration one embodiment which my invention may assume in practice. In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a portion of a slide fastener constructed according to my invention;

Fig. 2 is a transverse section on line 2 2 of Fig. 1; 1

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one of the fastener elements detached from the stringer;

Fig. 4 is an end view looking at the jaw portions on the fastener elements; and

Fig. 5 is a view looking at the fastener element.

In the form illustrated, I have followed the general construction of fasteners of this type, in respect to the tapes or stringers 6, '7 having corded edges 8, on which are mounted cooperating multiple series of fastener elements generally designated 9. The elements are adapted to be quickly engaged and disengaged by means of a slider other end of the 1933, Serial No. 650,673

of the U-shaped portion to provide projecting l0 legs 13 which extend away from the stringer edge. The ends of these legs are bent inwardly and upwardly to provide the interlocking projections 14.

It will be noted that the legs 13 extend in parallel relation away from the stringer and form a 15 recess 15 between them into which the interlocking projections 14 of a corresponding element in the opposite series engages to complete the fastener interlock.

In operation it will be readily understood that the channeled portion of the slider causes a bending of the fastener stringers and constant fanwise spreading apart of the fastener elements which allows them to be brought into intermeshed relation. When the stringers again resume parallel relation in emerging from the lower end of the slider, the projections 14 will interlock in; the recesses 15, and firmly fasten the parts together until the reverse movement of the slider takes place, when they will be opened up in the usual manner. The rounded ends 16, Fig. 1, provide smooth camming surfaces cooperating with the slider, which is a desirable feature especially when the fastener is being operated under transverse strain.

I As a result of my invention it" will be observed that a novel and improved fastener element has been devised which has in effect, double gripping portions making a very secure engagement with the flexible tape or stringer. At the same time, a strong and secure interlock is provided by turning the ends of the wire outwardly from the stringer and bending them in a suitable fashion to provide the desired interlocking construction.

In carrying out my invention many variations '45 will, of course, be apparent to the skilled fastener workman, for instance, the clamping jaw portions instead of being U-shaped or round as shown in the drawing, may be more flattened, which would probably simplify the bending operation.

While I have in this application specifically shown and described one embodiment which my invention may assume in practice, it will be understood that this embodiment is merely for the purposes of illustration and description, and that various other forms may be devised within the scope of my invention as defined in the following claims.

What I claim as my invention is: I 1. In a separable fastener, a pair of flexible stringers having cooperating series of fastener elements thereon, each comprising a wire of predetermined length bent upon itself to provide in its mid portion, a section engaging around an edge of a flexible tape and reversely bent on each side of said stringer to provide leg portions overlapping said section so that the ends of the wire extend away from the stringer edge, said ends being formed to provide interlocking means for engaging the fastener elements of opposite series.

2. A fastener element comprising a wire of predetermined length bent upon itself in its mid portion to provide open ended jaws to receive the edge of a stringer, the wire being bent back upon itself on each side of the stringer and extended away from the stringer edge to provide a pair of leg portions defining a recess therebetween, the ends of said leg portions being bent upwardly parallel to the stringer edges to provide an interlocking projection for engagement with the recess of a corresponding member.

3. In a separable fastener, a pair of flexible stringers having cooperating series of fastener elements thereon and a slider for engaging and disengaging said elements, each element comprising a wire of predetermined length bent upon itself to provide means intermediate its ends for attaching the member to a stringer, and having its ends projecting away from the stringer, and bent inwardly toward each other and upwardly parallel to the stringer edges to provide an interlocking projection.

4. In a separable fastener, a pair of flexible stringers having cooperating series of fastener stringers having cooperating series of fastener 20 elements thereon, and a slider for engaging and disengaging the elements, each element comprising a predetermined length of round wire, bent to substantially U-shape around the stringer edge,

and the ends of said wire bent to project away 25 from the stringer, and further bent parallel to the stringer edges to provide an interlocking projection and recess.

HARRY E. SIPE. 

